Wigan 34 Leeds 20 By DAVID MAGILTON WIGAN proved that not only do they have the class but the stamina as their fourth game in eight days saw them sweep second placed Leeds away in style.
The champions also gave their fans a glimpse of the future by throwing a handful of their talented youngsters into the final game of the Centenary season.
They didn't look out of place either and gave valuable support to the senior professionals.
Once again the Kiwi duo of Henry Paul and Va'aiga Tuigamala were in devastating form and instrumental in crushing the Yorkshiremen's spirit.
Coach Graeme West was delighted to have finished the hectic season with an unbeaten home record intact.
"I thought at the start of the season that we had let a lot of players go and we might have problems, but the younger players have come through and done well.
"There is a good relationship between the young players and the seniors and that showed today.
Wigan opened in style with two excellent tries in the first 12 minutes through Andy Johnson and Paul with the latter adding two goals before Leeds hit back with an Alan Tait try and Graeme Holroyd goal.
They extended the lead to 24-6 by the break with another couple of dazzling tries by Martin Hall and Martin Offiah with Paul adding another couple of goals.
With the game in their pockets Wigan eased up a little and Leeds responded with a hat-trick of tries by Kiwi centre Craig Innes and an Andy Gibbons goal.
But Wigan were never threatened as Paul landed two penalties and then capped a magnificent display with his second try and a goal to ensure the man-of-the-match award went his way.
WIGAN: Radlinski, Smyth, Tuigamala, Craig, Offiah, Paul, Robinson, Cowie, Hall, Cassidy, Haughton, Barrow, Johnson. Subs: Baynes (for Cassidy 57), Dermott (for Haughton 57), Tatupu (for Barrow 67), Cardiss. Att: 12,918.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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